Law roundup: Pranksters really stick a fork in it

A woman reportedly walked outside to find about 150 forks staked into her yard, tine side down, and called Kalispell Police Department, concerned it was a hate crime over a letter to the editor she penned before the election. She called back and left a voicemail saying the silverware shenanigans were part of a prank and that she was appreciative of law enforcement’s response. 

A concerned resident spotted a strange man lying under a swing in the yard of a neighbor who was not home. They asked him what he was doing, and he seemed to be under the influence as he slurred his words but claimed he had been robbed. Officers spoke with the man. 

A serial shoplifter was allegedly hanging out by a business waiting for it to open, wearing clothes she stole the previous week. The manager wanted her moved along. She reportedly kept returning despite being asked to leave multiple times over two days. When she was found sitting inside, the manager decided they wanted her ticketed for trespassing, which she was. 

Officers received a later call about a woman walking back and forth from one side of the fairgrounds to the other who reportedly refused to leave the property. Officers got her belongings from a shelter and brought them to her, providing her with several options moving forward, including a ticket to Missoula. She allegedly said she wanted to go back to jail. Officers dropped her off at a park instead and planned to follow up with her on taking the ticket out of town. 

A dead elk was reportedly floating in Stillwater River behind the community college. The caller was provided with the phone number for Fish and Game. 

A dark gray minivan that was seen swerving all over the road reportedly almost hit a guardrail. 

An unhitched “tattoo trailer” reportedly showed up in a neighborhood again and a resident said it was repeatedly happening.